Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
Contemporary accounts of the evolution of urban and regional economies are dominated by debates over the relationship between the processes of globalisation, neoliberalism, and uneven development. It is commonly claimed that the global economy has experienced a transition from an era of relatively stable and sustained economic growth to an era that is characterised by stagnation and economic crisis. Competing explanations of the capitalist space economy often result in conflicting and competing policy prescriptions. The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the contrasting approach to understanding the geography of uneven development and explore the implications for designing and implementing urban and regional policy. To ground discussion, core economic concepts are explored using case studies that are of contemporary policy relevant in the Australian context: (i) cities as locus of production; (ii) the geography of labour markets; and (iii) regional resilience and local competitiveness.
The aims of this unit are to introduce students to the intellectual context that informs contemporary debates related urban and regional economic policy; to provide students with a solid grounding in the principles of urban and regional economics; and to provide students with the skills to critically evaluate competing explanations of the evolution of the economic landscape.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) understand the principles of urban and regional economics and its place in contemporary policy discourse and (2) critically evaluate contemporary debates in economic geography as they relate to the theory and practice of urban and regional economics.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) seminar assignment; (2) critical evaluation paper; and (3) research paper. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Professor Paul Plummer
- Unit rules
- Advisable prior study
- Ideally, but not essential, students should have a geography and/or cognate discipline background.
- Contact hours
- 20 hours over 10 weeks split between lectures and seminars
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.